Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch connected to your large intestine.
Appendicitis usually causes pain that starts in the middle of your tummy before moving towards the lower right side.
If you have appendicitis, you'll usually need surgery to remove your appendix as soon as possible.
Appendicitis usually causes pain that starts in the middle of your tummy before moving towards the lower right side.
Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go.
Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe.
Pressing on this area, coughing or walking may make the pain worse.
You may lose your appetite, feel sick and have constipation or diarrhoea.
If you have appendicitis, you'll usually need surgery to remove your appendix as soon as possible.
If you have appendicitis, it's likely your appendix will need to be removed as soon as possible.
Removal of the appendix, known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy, is 1 of the most common operations in the UK and its success rate is excellent.
It's most commonly carried out as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy).
Several small cuts are made in the abdomen, allowing special surgical instruments to be inserted.
Open surgery, where a larger, single cut is made in the abdomen, is usually used if the appendix has burst or access is more difficult.
It usually takes a couple of weeks to make a full recovery after your appendix has been removed.
But strenuous activities may need to be avoided for up to 6 weeks after having open surgery.